Punching machine



Jan; 7, 1947.

w. LANG PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 liz-76.1.

\\ INVENToR /1//LL/AM AA/G.

ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1947. w. LANG PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Ust. 9, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan. 7, w LANG PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Oct; 9, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 w FIZ-6.3.

0 |NvEN'roR WML/AM ANG BY TTRNEY Jan. 7, 1947. w LANG 2,413,875

PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hi! C ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1947. w, LANG PUNGHING MACHINE '7 Sheets-$11091'. 5

Filed Ont. 9. 1943 w-l J! fara. 7

w RA 9 O 50 n .m2 54655 5 E wi.11$2 4. VM 5009" 0 l/ T705D5 0 lw3457 6 L M2222?. 2 M g. l .D .A M I D 6 0 6 v m s. Z U 7 M Z A A? n Mu .2 r

o 0 o /MHOMI3456189 ATTORNEY Jan. 7, w LANG PUNCHING MACHINE Filed 0M. 9*, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 M.. I I HlldllllllhnnlHHllllllllHl l v o o o o. o o o o HHIII UIIIIHHHHNIIIIIIIHHHII I l \h UHIIII IIIHUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. III

@n :rap

lNvENoR /V/L/AM LANG.

ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1947. w, LANG 2,413,875

PUNCHING IIACHINE Filed Oct. 9. 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 lNvEN'roR /VM .4 /AM AA/c:

fag/J2 nlm/92a "TGRNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUNCHIN G MACHINE William Lang, New York, N. Y., assigner to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 9, 1943, Serial No. 505,680

l 18 Claims. This invention relates generally to printing and printing-line control punching machines and refers more particularly to improvements in machines of the character set forth in the Bryce Patent 1,608,837, granted November 30,' 1936, and the Daubmeyer Patent 2,157,980, granted May 9, 1939. In both of these prior patents, a file or series oi' cards is fed through the machine, and data already perforated in the cards is sensed as the cards pass a sensing position. In the Bryce patent the sensed perforations cause the machine to print data back on the card containing the perforations, and in the Daubmeyer patent the sensed perforations cause printing on the next succeeding card in the series. In the latter patent there is a limitation that data may be printed n what might be termed a master card from only a single preceding detail card, and such information is printed in only certain, restricted parts of the master card. i

The principal object of the present invention' resides in the provision of an improved printing machine, wherein a single Iille of cards containing Fig. is a timing chart of the operating-cams` and contacts.

Figs. 6 and 7 are a pair of detail cards.

Fig. B shows a master or ledger card.

Figs. 9 and 9a arranged with Fig. 9a below Fig. 9 constitute a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken on lines Ill-l0 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a 4punch operating mechanism, the

master cards followed by one or more detail cards will operate, so that data on each of the detail cards will be printed on the preceding master card. Such printing will lbe selected in fields and positions within the fields as determined by the detail cards themselves.

` Another object of the invention is to provide an alternate manner of operation in the machine, wherein each of the detail cards will print on a successive line of the master card beginning with the next available printing position on such master card.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which a single file of master and detail cards are handled, and the data of the detail cards is recorded on the related master card, with the further provision that the detail cards may be separated out from the master cards to form two separate flies or the cards may be retained/in a single file.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a posting machine in which improved devices are incorporated for effecting the punching of printing line control in one' record under control of one or more other source records.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention 'and the best mode, which has been contemplated. of applying that principle.

view being taken on lines II-I i of Fig. 4.

The record cards Fig. 8 represents a master or ledger card which is in the form of the well known Hollerith record card, which is provided with the usual twelve horizontal rows of perforation receiving positions, which are intersected by vertical lines representing columnar positions. At the left end of the card several vertical lines form a iield designated 25, in which a code number, such as 1234, has been perforated in accordance with the usual practice. This ileld 25 is also provided in each of the detail cards (Figs. 6 and 7), wherein the same code number has been perforated to identify these detail cards as being related to the master card. In a file of cards to be passed through the machine there will be a master card designated M in Fig. 8 and one or more detail cards designated D (Figs. 6 and '7), which have been previously arranged so that cards of the same code number are grouped together with the master card M leading.

As an example of a practical application, the master card may contain written data representing the details of a transaction, such as the purchase of some commodity which is to be paid for in installments. For this purpose, the card is provided with two fields designated 26 and 21, each of which has twelve lines on which the machine will record amounts and dates as indicated. Whenever printing is effected on a line of either field, a so-called line finding perforation 28 will be made in the card. The master card M is also provided with a distinguishing designation 29 made in the uppermost; position of a selected column. Whenever a transaction is negotiated with a customer, ledger card M is placed in the le and the customer is provided with a set of detail cards D, one for each installment to be paid. Each of these cards is provided with the appropriate code perforation in its field 25, and perforations in a field 30 of the detail cards represent the amount of the installment and the due date. In the further field 3| comprising two columns, there is perforated, one of the twenty-four positions, representing the number of the particular payment. Thus, for example, the card in Fig. '7 represents the 8 payment, while the card in Fig. 6 representsv the 20 payment.

When the customer makes 9, payment, the appropriate card D is returned therewith and placed in the file following the corresponding master card M, and during an interval of time several of these cards may have accumulated, so that when it isdesired to post the data on the master card, there 'may be one or more detail cards in the file accompanying the master card.

The machine may be arranged for two different types of operation, the first of which is as follows: Each detail card may control the printing of the amount and date perforated therein on the printing line of card M corresponding to the payment number of the detail card. Thus, the card of Fig. 7 will cause printing of its amount 2600 and date 8| 5 on the 8 printing line, and the card of Fig. 6 will print its amount 2750 and date SI on the printing line designated 20 of Fig. 8. In this type of operation, each detail card will select the particular eld and line of the master card and record therein.

In the second type of operation, the payment eld 3l of the detail cards is not perforated and may be omitted entirely, and in the operation of the lmachine each detail card will record on the next succeeding available line of the master card. Thus, for example, if the master card had, through some previous operation, received recording on printing lines I, 2 and 3 thereof, the card of Fig. 7 would cause printing on the next available line, namely, line #4, as indicated by the dotted numerals, and the card of Fig. 6- will thereafter record its data on the next line.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the ille of cards isv placed in supply magazine 32 with the master cards M preceding or to the left of their related' detail cards D. i From the magazine they are fed downwardly one at a time by a vertically reciprocable picker knife 33, which advances the card to pairs of feed rollers 34 and 35 which convey it to a shutter or stop 36. This stop is secured on a rod 31 which, when rocked clockwise, will release the card for further advance by the rollers. In the path of the card directly below stop 36, the deflector 38 is mounted on a rod 39. For the further advance of detail cards, the deflector 38 assumes the full line position in Fig. l, so that the card passes to pairs of rollers 40 and 4l which convey it to a discharge pocket 42. Where the card to be advanced is a master card, the deiiector 38 is rocked to its dotted line position, so that the card continues traveling in the same vertical plane to pairs of rollers 43 and 44, which advance it against a second stop 45 which is mounted on rod 46. Subsequent rocking of this stopout of the path of the card will enable the rollers 44 to advance it into a hopper 41. Generally speaking, all master cards will travel a straight vertical path for conveyance to pocket 41, while all detail cards will be deflected into the pocket 42.

Referring to Fig. 2, 48 represents the main drive shaft of the machine which makes one revolution, during which various cams control mechanism at times indicated in the time chart of Fig. 5. Thus, with the cards placed in the magazine, a cam 49 (Figs. 2 and 5) will reciprocate picker 33 through a. pivoted follower arm 50 and link 5|. The pairs of rollers 34, 45, 43, 44 have one of their rollers positively driven at a rapid rate from the gear 52 mounted on shaft 48 through a train of gears generally designated 53. It is thus seen that only one of a pair of rollers is driven, and such roller is in constant rotation during the revolution of shaft 48 so that, when the advance of the card I is interrupted by either of the stops 38 or 45, the rollers will simply slip on the card. The pairs of detail card feed rollers 48 and 4| are similarly driven from a gear 54 located on shaft 48 behind gear 52,y as viewed in Fig. 2, through a train of gears designated 55.

With the card in position against stop 36 (Fig. l), the vertical columns .thereof will be in alignment with contact strips 53 of which there is one for each of the card columns that are to be sensed, and these strips are separately mounted in an insulating block 51.

On the opposite side of the card are individual spring pressed contact balls 58 arranged in rows of columns to contact the possible punching positions of the cards. When the card is in this position, circuits completed through the perforations therein, as will be more particularly pointed out in connection with the circuit diagram, ascertain whether the card is a master card or a detail card and control the mechanism accordingly. In this position it is also ascertained Whether the recording is to take place in positions I-I2 of the master card or positions |3--24.

Later, at the time indicated by the line designated SI in Fig. 5, the solenoid Si in Fig. 1 is energized to rock rod 31 through arm 59, and just prior to this, if the card is ascertained to be a master card the solenoid S4 is energized to rock rod 39 and deiiector 38 through an arm 60, so that the master card will be advanced to stop 45. From this latter position the card is released through energization of solenoid S2, which through arm 6l will rock the rod 45 and stop 45.

It was mentioned previously that the detail cards go into pocket 42 and the master card into pocket 41. This, of course, effects a separation of the two types of cards. Where it may be desirable to retain the cards in a single ille, a section of the left hand side wall of pocket 42 designated 62 is rocked counterclockwise about the `pivot lpoint 63, to the inclined broken line position shown, to form a guiding surface along which the master card will slide to enter pocket 42. In this manner all lthe cards will eventually arrive in a single pocket.

Printing mechanism The printing mechanism comprises a group of type sectors 64 mounted upon a shaft 65 having ratchet teeth 66 opposite the type head. The sectors are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a cross bar 61 carried by arms 68 secured to shaft 65, and they are urged in a clockwise direction by spring B9.

Referring to Fig. 2, the shaft 65 has secured thereto a, forked lever 1U which cooperates with a pin 1I which passes through an arm 12 and a link 13. The opposite end of link 13 is provided with a roller 14 cooperating with a. cam 15 on shaft 48, so that as the cam revolves, link 13 is pulled downwardly toward the left by'spring 18 and through arms '12 and 18 shaft 85 is rocked asias Y v s cloekwisecarryingthu'ewiththetypesectorsll. During such movement the teeth pass the nose of a stopping pawl II in succession. This pawl is normally latched as shown in Fig. 1 by the amature ll'of a magnet 10, and at diilerential times magnet Il will be energized under control of the perforations sensed in the detail cards, and pawl I'I will be released to engage one of the teeth 00 to present the appropriate type element to a printing line, which is along the line borlaontal to the axis of the shaft 05.

The printing mechanism is normally positioned as in Fig. 1 to print on the lowermost line of the master card, and printing is eil'ected on higher lines by differentially positioning the entire printing mechanism vertically. For this purpose, the shaft 0,5 is rotatably mounted in a pair of verti- `cally slidable bars 0l which are normally held in their lowermost position through engagement of a lever 0| with a rod 02 (see Fig. 2) extending from the bars 00. 'Ihe lever 0| is pivoted at 00 and has a roller 04 extending into cam groove oi a box cam 00. As the cam rotates, arm 0| is rocked clockwise and through spring el the bars 00 are elevated, carrying therewith the shaft 05 and magnets 19. This elevation takes place after the shaft 05 has been rocked, so that at such time the arm I0 is in the broken line position shown in Fig. 2, in which pin 1| is in vertical alignment with shaft 05 and permits upward movement of the shaft.

Referring to Figs. l and 3, one of the bars 00 is provided with teeth Il, with which a pawl 00 cooperates. During the upward movement of the bars 00, a magnet 5l may be energized to attract its armature 9| and release pawl 09 for engagement with a selected tooth B0 and thus interrupt the printing mechanism in position to print on a selected vertical line of the master card. After the type sector has been positioned arcuately and bars 00 have been positioned vertically, solehold Sl (Fig. 1) is energized and through arm 02 will rock latchlng bar 03 counterclockwise to release spring pressed printing hammers 94, which inked ribbon vgenerally designated at ss against a platen 00.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, shaft 65 is provided with an arm 91 which, through a link 90 rocks an arm 99 on the shaft |00 to which is secured the hammer bail |0I. Thus, when the shaft 65 rocks clockwise to enable arcuate positioning of the type sectors, the bail |0| is rocked in the same direction away from the hammers 94 so that, when the latching bar 03 is tripped, the hammers will be i'ree to strike the type. Upon return movementof shaft 55, the type sectors will be restored and the hammer bail |0| will concurrently operate to relatch the hammers on the latching bar 93. Each type sector is provided with a camming portion |02 which at the end of the restoring stroke of the sector will rock the related stopping pawl 'Il to relatch it on its armature l0. Also, when the bars 00 are restored downwardly by lever 0| (Fig. 2)the extreme end |00. one of which supports the magnet Il and the line locating pawl 00. 'I'hese blocks |01 are also provided with rollers |09 for travel in stationary guide rails III, so that the plates |00 may be shifted to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, carrying therebetween the printing mechanism. With the normal position of the plates as shown in Fig. 3, the printing mechanism is positioned to record in ileld 21 on the master card (see Fig. V8) and, when shifted toward the left to the broken line position indicated, the type sectors will be aligned for recording in ileld 26 of the master card. Mechanism for bringing about this shift comprises a cam (Fig. 1) secured on shaft 48 which rocks a follower arm I|2 freely mounted on a shaft III, so that in the normal operation the cam simply oscillates the follower ||2 about the shaft III.

When it is required to record in eld 26 of the card, a solenoid S5 (Fig. 1) is energized and thereby releases a spring pressed dog Hl for engagement in a notch ||5 of the lever ||2. This will couple arm I|6 to lever I I2 and, since arm I Il is secured to shaft I I3, the latter will be rocked and through a pair of beveled gears I|`| will rock shaft ||8 (see Fig. 3). The extremity of this shaft has secured thereto an arm ||9 connected through a link |20 to one of the frames |08. Thus, if coupling is effected by solenoid S5, frame |00 is shifted to its alternate position, this being prior to the tripping of the hammers, so that when the latter are tripped, recording will take place on one of the lines I3-24 of the master card.

In Fig. 4 the type sectors 64 are shown in full line position to print on one of the lines ||2 of the master card, and in dotted outline is shown their relative position for recording on lines |3- 24. On either side of the type sectors is provided a pivoted punch hammer designated |2|R and |2|L (see Fig. ll). The construction of this hammer is similar to that of the print hammers, and it is actuated in the same manner. With the printing mechanism in its normal non-shifted position, the hammer |2|R is in line with a vertical column of spring pressed punch plungers |22 and, when the printing hammers are tripped, the hammer |2|R will strike one of the plungers |22 to force such plunger toward the card M into an appropriate die |23 to effect a perforation 28 (see Fig. '8) along the same line on which printing occurs. When the printing frame is shifted to its alternate position, the second punch hammer I2 IL is in line with a similar row of punch plungers designated 2l of Fig. 4 so that, when printing takes place in columns |3-2I, the perforation 20 is effected in the column at the left of the printed figures as indicated in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. l0, there is shown a line finding device which functions during the alternate operation of the machine, wherein recording is effected on the next available line of the master card. This mechanism comprises a vertically slidable bar |25 which is normally held by a spring |25 against a block |21 carried by the vertically slidable bar 00. The bar |25 is provided with teeth |20 for cooperation with a pawl |29 pivoted on a cross bar |01. When the bar 80 which carries the type sectors is moved vertically upwards, it will carry therewith the bar |25 and in doing so the teeth |20 will ratchet across the pawl |29, which will retain the bar |25 in the position to which it has been raised and will prevent restoration thereof when the bar 00 is lowered. Restoration may ultimately be effected upon energization of a solenoid designated S6 which through an arm |30 will rock pawl |28 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth and permit spring |26 to restore theA bar. The lower end of the bar carries a pair of contact springs |3l, |32 one behind the other, the former of which successively contacts segments |38 in an insulating bar |34, while the latter slides along a common conducting strip |35 which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9a.

On the shaft 48 are carried several contact operating cams which are diagrammatically represented in the circuit and whose timing is' represented in Fig. 5, so that the detailed construction of these well known devices is not shown.

Circuit diagram The complete operation of the machine will now be explained in connection with the circuit diagram to set forth the sequence of operations occurring in the handling of a representative group of record cards, specifically the cards shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. For this group of cards it is assumed that each detail card will print on a line of the ledger card to be selected by the detail card itself.Y Referring nowto Figs. 9 and 9a, current is supplied from a suitable source to main lines designated |40 and |4|, and with the cards placed in magazine 32 of Fig. 1 the driving motor (not shown) is placed in operation to cause rotation of shaft 48, so that the cams thereon commence to rotate. The iirst card which is a master card M will now be advanced by the picker 33 to the rst pair of feed rollers 34 which bring it against the first stop 36. In this position the card is sensed by the contact balls 58 and strips 56, so that wherever a perforation occurs, electrical contact is made between ball 58 and strip 56 through such perforation. y

While the card is in this sensing position, sev-1 eral so-called emitters function. These emitters are generally designated E in Figs. 9 and 9a and comprise a movable brush preferably mounted on v shaft 48, which traverses a succession of contact segments to connect them in succession with a. common conductor. In Fig. 9 the segments are generally designated as |42 and the common strips as |43. In the circuit diagram the times in the cycle at which such emitter contacts are made are indicated. As seen from Fig. 5. the cam 15 operates to rock the type sectors as emitter El functions, and during this period the type sectors are selectively positioned through circuits traceable in Fig. 9 from line |40, wire |44, common strip |43 of emitter El, brush |45 of the emitter, segments |42, to wires |45. The wire |46 connected to the 9 segment |42 is connected to the contact balls 58 that sense the 9 perforation positions in the `amount and date elds of the card. The wire connected to the 8 segment |42 is connected to the contact balls 58 that sense the 8 perforation positions in the amount and date fields of the card,.and so on. As this first card is a master card containing no such perforations, there will be no circuits completed at this time. Since also for this operation the master card is not to determine the printing line,

y no circuits will be completed through the hole 28 of the master card. The only perforation sensed in the master card is the hole 29 in Fig. 8, which will enable the completion of a circuit upon the closing of cam contacts C3, traceable from line |40, contacts C3, the contact ball 58 in line with the hole 29, perforation 29, related common strip 56, relay magnet RI, wire |41, to line |4|. The

8 magnet RI closes its contacts Rla to provide a holding circuit traceable from line |40, contacts contacts Rla, magnet RI, wire |41, to line Accordingly, relay RI will remain energized until contacts C4 open at the time indicated in Fig. 5. When cam contacts C1 close, a circuit will be traceable from line |40, solenoid S4, contacts C1, relay contacts Ric now closed, wire |41 to line |4|. Slightly thereafter, cam contacts C6 close, to energize the solenoid S| through a circuit from line |40, solenoid Si, contacts C6, wire |41 to line |4|. Thus, with both solenoids Sl and S4 energized, the stop 36 is retracted and the deilector 38 is shifted to its dotted line position in Fig. l, and as a result the master card is advanced to stop 45,

During this cycle, various operations take place idly, since there is no card in printing position during this cycle. At the beginning of the next cycle, the first detail card is advanced to the sensing position against stop 36 s0 that, when emitter El now operates, the circuits previously traced to wires |46 will continue through the perforations in the amount and date columns of the detail card to energize the print magnets 19 and the type sectors will be positioned in accordance with the amount and date. While the emitter El functions, a second emitter Ela operating concurrently, analyzes the left hand column of the payment field 3|, and if there is any perforation in such column the mechanism for shifting the entire print mechanism laterally will be operated. Since for this rst detail card there is no such perforation the shift mechanism will not function at this time.

After the operation of emitter El, emitters E2, E2a and E2b function and these operate in synchronism with the upward movement of the printing frames 80. For the card of Fig. 7 the perforation representing payment 8 will cause completion 0f a circuit from line |40, wire |48, switch |49, wire |50, common strip |43 of emitter E2, the related wiper |45, the 8 segment 42, the 8 wire of the group |5|, contact 58, common strip 56, contacts Cib (closed during this period) line selecting magnet 90, wire 41, to line |4|. This circuit is completed at the time that the appropriate tooth 88 (Fig. l) is opposite the stopping pawl 89, so that the printing frame is positioned with the selected type elements opposite the 8 printing line 'of the card, and the line indicating punch hammer is also positioned in readiness to operate the 8 punch plunger |2| of Fig. 11. While the parts are in this adjusted position, the print solenoid S3 is energized through a circuit traceable from line |40 (Fig. 9), solenoid S3, contacts C5, contacts Rib, wire 41, to line |4|, and as a result printing and punching take place.

Thereafter, the printing frame is moved downwardly and the type sectors are also restored together with the printing and punching hammers. During this period, the cam contacts C6 close to energize solenoid SI and, since during this cycle the card deilector is not operated, the first detail card will now advance from sensing position to the hopper 42 and the master card will remain in printing position. During the beginning of the next cycle, the second detail card of Fig. 6 is advanced to sensing position. Again, during the operation of the emitter El the type sectors will be rocked in accordance with the amount and date perforations on this detail card. Since this card bears a perforation 20 in the payment field of the card, printing is to be effected ln ileld 26 of the master card requiring that the printing mechanism be shifted laterally. This is brought about as follows: During the rotation of emitter Ela concurrently with emitter El, a circuit is traceable from line |40 (Fig. 9), wire |48, relay. R3, switch |52, wire |53, common strip |43 of emitter Ela, the 20 segment |42, the 20 wire of a group |54, the 20 perforation in the detail card, the related common strip 56, cam contacts Cla closed during this period, wire |41 to line |4|. The relay magnet R3 closes its contact R3a to establish a circuit from line |40, wire |48, relay R3, contact R3a, shift solenoid S5, contacts C3. wire |41, to line |4|. This circuit will accordingly be maintained until contacts C2 open. As`

' tlally the same for that traced for the preceding detail card, except that it goes through the 20 -hole instead of through the 8 hole of the card.

Now when the hammer bail 93 is tripped by solenoid S3, printing will take place in eld 26 of Fig. 8 and the perforation 28 will be made at the left of the recorded data as indicated.

Assuming that the next following card is the master card of a new groupor account, at the beginning of the next cycle this master card will be advanced to the sensing position so that we now have a master card in both the sensing and printing positions. As already explained, the only perforation sensed in this master card is the hole 29 identifying it as a master card, and as before the relay Rl is energized and will be held through the cam contacts C4. During this cycle, since no print selecting circuits are completed, the type sectors are rocked to their extreme printing position and the printing frame rises to its uppermost position. However, when cam contacts C close: the circuit to the hammer bail solenoid S3 will not be completed, since relay contacts Rlb in series therewith are opened, and no impression will be taken from the type sectors and no punching operations take place. When cam contacts C1 close, a circuit is completed from line |40, solenoid S2, contacts C1, contacts Rlc, wire |41, to line |4|, and a parallel circuit is completedr through solenoid S4. A third parallel circuit is completed to energize the solenoid SI through the contacts C6. Thus, at the period indicated in Fig. 5 the flrst master card is released for advance to the hopper 41 and the following master card advances to the printing position, and in the next cycle therst detail card related to this new master card will be advanced to sensing position, where its analysis will cause positioning of the type bars and printing Iupon a line selected by perforations in the payment field of the detail card. It will be apparent that where any master card does not have an accompanying or following detail card, such master card will pass through the hopper 41 without receiving any recorded information. Y

Considering now the case where printing is to be effected on the next available line of the master card and detail cards are not provided with .switch controlling lever |56 (Fig. 9) is shifted from the position designated selected line" to the position designated successive lines, and this shift will cause opening of switches |49 and |52 and will close a pair` of switches |51 and |58.

The opening of switches |49 and |52 will `disv connect the emitters Ela and E2 so that, even though perforations are present in field 3| of the detail cards, no circuits will be completed therethrough. In addition, a switch |59 (Fig. 9) is closed. Assuming that the ledger or master card, which has been moved to sensing position as already explained, does not have any prior amount and date recording thereon, so that it also does not have any holes 28 therein, in that case the first printing is to be on line of the master card. As before, the sensing of the special hole 29 will energize relay RI 'and hold it energized. Since there are no other holes in the card, no further circuits are completed and, as a result, the type sectors rock to their extreme position and the printing frame moves upwardly to a position where the-.type elements are presented along the line above the first printing line, that is, the frame is elevated one step beyond the flrst printingfposition.

Since this is a master card, the tripping of the hammers'will be prevented as explained, so that no effective operation takes place. In advancing to this extreme upper position, the frame has carried with` it the bar |25 of Figs. 9a and 10,.so that the wiper |3| carried by bar |25 will contact the 0 segment |33, and the companion wiper |32 will contact the common |35. Dog |29 will hold bar |25 in this elevated position where it is retained. In the latter part of the' cycle, this master card is advanced to the printing position as explained, and the first detail card will be brought to sensing position at the beginning of the next cycle.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 9a, cam contacts C8 close to energize solenoid S6 after the printing frame 80 has risen its full extent and while it is held in such position, so that the dog |29 is out of engagement with the bar |25 during this interval and permits the bar to contact the block |21 of the frame and take a position there through, if it is not already against the block.

Thereafter, the pawl |29 is released for engagement with the bar to hold it in position before the printing frame is restored downwardly.

Thus, the bar |21 will take a setting representi |33 at which the wiper |3| is now set, thence` through wiper 3|, wiper |32, common strip |35, wire |63 (Fig. 9), line selecting magnet 90, to line |4|. Thus, as the type sectors are positioned in accordance with the amount and date perlorations of the first detail card, the printing frame is positioned in its #l or first line position so that, when the hammers are tripped, the data will be recorded 0n line I of the master card M of Fig. 8, together with the accompanying perforation 28. While the type bars are in this printing position. the closure of cam ycontacts C8 (Fig. 9a) will release the bar |25 so that the wipers |3| and |32 may drop down one step to contact the 1 segment |33, in which position the bar will then be latched so that, during the next cycle when the second detail card is sensed, a circuit will be completed throughL the magnet 90 at a time for positioning the print frame for printing on the second line of the master card.

Assuming now that the master card when sensed contains three entries, for example, as in Fig. 8, and the rst detail card is to print on the next succeeding line 4 and then on line 5 and so on, at the time such master card is in sensing position a circuit is traceable from line |40 (Fig. 9), wire |48, switch |51, wire |60, the common strip |43 oi emitter Ela, the wiper |45, the 3 segment |42, the 3 wire |64, the 3 hole 28 in the card, related common strip 56, wire |65, contacts Clb and magnet 90 to line |4I. This will position the printing frame at the 3 line and will also position the wipers |3| and |32 at the 3 segment |33, where they will be set during the next cycle when the detail card is sensed. During such next cycle, emitter E2b will function to complete a circuit through its 4 segment |42 and wire |43, which is connected to the 3 segment |33 to thereby position the printing mechanism for recording on line 4 of the master card. Thus, the printing mechanism for this operation will cause recording of detail cards to take place on the next higher available recording line, and,.if no recording has as yet been effected, on the rst recording line.

There remains one further condition, namely, where the last recording has been in the field 26 of Fig. 8. For example, let it be assumed that such last recording was on line 20. With the master card in sensing position, a circuit is completed from line |40, wire |48, relay R2, the switch |58, the wire |66, emitter Elb, the 20 segment |43 thereof, the related wire |61, the hole` 28 in the 20 line of the master card, contacts Cla closed during this period, to line |4|. Relay R2 closes its contacts R2a to energize the shift relay S5 through a circuit from line |40, relay R2, contacts R211, relay S5, switch |59 in the closed position, wire |68, contacts C9 and Rld in parallel, to line |4|, through wire |41. During this period, contacts Rld are open since the master card is being sensed, contacts C9 are closed for the period indicated in Fig. 5 so that they hold the shift magnet energized shortly after relay RI becomes deenergized, at which time the contacts Rlb close to maintain the shift magnet S5 energized. Accordingly, 'the shift magnet will now remain energized during the sensing of any subsequent detail cards and until a new master card arrives, in which case relay Rl is energized to open its contacts RI d and break the circuit to the shift solenoid S5. Briefly stated, when a master card is sensed in which subsequent printing lines are all in field 26, the shift magnet is held energized.

A particular condition arises where the last recorded line on the master card is line |2 and the next recording is to be on line i3. In such case, as before, the sensing of the 12 hole in the master card will position the bar |25 (Fig. 9) with its wiper |3| at the 12 segment |33. In this position the second wiper |3|a contacts a separate segment 33 and Wiper |32a contacts a separate segment |35a, so that in the next following cycle, when a detail card is sensed, the circuit to emitter E217 is through the 1 segment |42 thereof, a wire |10, relay contacts R41) (closed as will be explained), wire |8|, wire |63 (Fig. 9) and magnet 90 to line 4| to position the printing mechanism at the uppermost line. Prior to the completion of this Acircuit the emitter E2b completes circuit from its common conductor |43I (Fig. 9a), brush |45 lowermost segment |42, wire |80, lowermost segment |33, wipers |3|a, |32a, segment |35a, relay R4, wire |1| (Fig. 9), shift solenoid S5, switch |59, wire |68, contacts C9, wire |41, to line |4|.

Energization of solenoid S5 at this time will cause shifting of the printing frame laterally, and relay R4 will close its contacts R4a, R4b, the former, to provide a holding circuit from line |40 (Fig. 9a), wire |12, contacts Ric, contacts R4a, relay R4, wire |1|, solenoid S5, switch |59, and relay contacts Rld, to line |4|, to maintain the shift magnet energized until the next master card is sensed.

It will be noted for this condition that bar |25 is initially positioned under control of the master card, to set wiper |3| at the 12 segment |33 and wiper |3|a at the lowermost segment |33. During the next cycle, after relay R4 and shift solenoid have been energized as explained, the bar |25 moves upwardly with frame 00 so that wiper |3| successively contacts the 11, 10, 9, etc., segments |33, and the brush |45 of emitter E2b successively contacts the 12, 11, 10, 9, etc., segments |42, one step ahead of the wiper |3| so that no circuits can be completed between like numbered segments |42 and |33. When wiper |3| is at the 1 segment |33, brush |45 is at the 1 segment |42 and the print sectors are at the 1 line of the master card. It is at this .time that the circuit traced through contacts R4b is completed'to interrupt the frames 80 for printing on line Pawl |29 will then hold bar |25 with wiper |3| at the 1 segment |33 so that in the following cycle when brush |45 engages the 2 segment |42 a circuit is completed to interrupt frame 80 for printing on line 2 of the master card.

There is thus provided a machine in which a single nie of alternately arranged master and detail cards may be sensed and data from the detail cards, of which there may be one or more for each master card, will print and punch on selected lines or positions of the master card, with the particular position to receive such recording being determined by the master card itself, or alternatively by each related detail card.

Further, the cards after a recording operation 'may be .segregated or retained as a. single file.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a. single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and Vdetails of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the linvention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated bythe scope of the following claims.

y What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single flle, said file comprising master cards and one or more detail cards for each master card, with the detail cards following the related master cards, means for sensing the cards insuccession for designations thereon, punching mechanism, operating means for said punching mechanism to effect punching in any one of a plurality of sequential punching positions on the master cards, and means controlled by the sensing means in response to the sensing of designations in the detail cards for rendering said operating means effective to punch 13 a printing line control hole for each detail card in a selected pomtion of the preceding related master card.

2. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single ille, said file comprising a plurality of master cards and a detail card following each master card, each master card having a plurality of punching positions thereon, punching mechanism, sensing means for `sensing designations inthe cards, and means controlled by said sensing means in response to the sensing of designations on a detail card for causing the punching mechanism to effect a perforation in one of the said plurality of punching positions of the preceding related master card, selected in accordance with the sensed designations on the detail card.

3. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single ille, said file comprising a plurality of master cards and a detail card following each master card, each master card having a plurality of recording positions thereon, recording mechanism, sensing means for sensing designations in the cards, and means controlled by said sensing means in response to the sensing of designations on a detail card for caus. ing the recording mechanism to eiect recording in one of said plurality of recording positions of the preceding related master card, selected in accordance with the sensed dedgnations on the detail card.

4. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single file, said ille comprising a plurality of master cards each followed by a detail card, w sensing station having sensing means the'reat, a punching station having punching means thereat, a detail card hopper, a master card hopper, feeding means for feeding each master card to said sensing station, said punching station and to said master card hopper and for feeding each detail card to said sensing station and to said detail card hopper, eachv master card having a sequentially arranged series of punching positions, means controlled by the sensing means upon sensing designations in a detail card for causing said punching means to punch in one of said punching positions, and means for selecting the punching position to be punched.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4in which the punching position is selected under control of said sensing means in response to the sensing of a detail card.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 in which the punching position is selected under control of the sensing means in response to the sensing of a master card.

7. The invention setforth in claim 4 in which the punching position is selectable under control of the sensing means inresponse to the sensing of either a master or a detail card and settableY means is provided for rendering either type of card effective for controlling said selection.

8. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single file, said ille comprising a plurality of master cards each followed by one or more detail cards, a sensing station having sensing means thereat, a Vpunching 14 station in succession and thence to the other of said hoppers, and means controlled by said sensing means in response to the sensing of said detail cards for causing the punching means to effect punching on the master card and in a different position thereon for each detail card sensed.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 in which means is controlled by said sensing means upon sensing a subsequent master card for causing said retaining means to release the preceding master card for feeding to the first named one of said hoppers. l

10.y In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single ile comprising a succession of alternately arranged master and detail cards, means for sensing data on a detail card and designations on a master card, means for posting on a preceding master card data derived from a following detail card and means adapted to be operated by designations on the'master card for selecting the position thereon to receive the data aforesaid.

11. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single file comprising a succession of alternately arranged master and detail cards, means for sensing data and designations on the detail card, means for posting on a preceding master card data derived from a following detail card, and means adapted to be operated by designations on the detail card for selecting the position on the master card to receive the data aforesaid.

12. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single iile comprising a succession of alternately arranged master and detail cards, means for sensing data and designations on the detail card, or selectively data on the detail card and designations on the master card, means for posting on a preceding master card data derived from fa, following detail card, meam adapted to be operated by designations on either the detail card or the master card for selecting the position on the master card to receive the data aforesaid, and manually settable means for rendering either the detail or the master card designations effective.

13. In a posting machine, means for advancing a succession of alternately arranged master and detail cards, means for reading perforations in the detail cards, means for posting on the precedingmaster cards the data derived from the said perforations. and means operable under control of said reading means for determining the position on the master card in which posting is to be effected. v

14. In a posting machine, means for feeding a succession of detail and master cards from a singie magazine, means for sensing data on said cards, means controlled by said sensing means for posting on preceding master cards data derived from the following detail card, and means for predetermining the position on the master card in which the data is to be posted.

l5. In a posting machine, means for advancing a succession of master and detail cards from a single magazine, a sensing means for sensing each card advanced,v means for advancing master cards along one path and detail cards along a second path after they have passed the sensing means, posting mechanism positioned in the path of the master cards, and means controlled by the sensing means in response to the sensing of detail cards for causing operation ofsaid posting mechanism.

16. In a posting machine,-means for advancing a-card from a magazine, a posting mechanism, said advancing means causing positioning of the card adjacent to said posting mechanism, means for operating the posting mechanism to post on the card, means for eil'ecting relative movement in two directions in the plane of the card between the card and said posting mechanism to eiTect posting in a selected column and row on the card, sensing means for sensing designations in the card prior to its advance to posting position, and means controlled by said sensing means for causing said relative movement to occur concurrently in said two directions, the extent of movement in each direction being lin accordance with designations sensed in the card.A

17. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a single le, said le comprising master cards and one or more detail cards for each master card, with the cards of one type following the related cards of the 20 other type, means for sensing the cards in succession for data designations thereon, posting mechanism, operating means for said posting mechanism to effect posting in any one of a plurality of sequential posting positions on the master cards,.and means controlled by the sensing means in response to the sensing of designations in the detail cards for rendering said operating means effective to post each detail card in a selected position of the related master card.

18. In a machine of the class described having means for feeding cards of a-single ille, said le comprising master cards and one or more detail cards for each master card, with the cards of one type following the related cards of the other type,

each master card having posting positions thereon arranged in columns and rows, posting mechanism, operating means for said posting mechanism to etl'ect posting in any one of said posting positions, and means controlled by the sensing means in response to the sensing of designations in the detail cards for rendering said operating means eiective to record each detail card on its related master card by a designation in a column and row selected by the detail card.

' WILLIAM LANG. 

